Brighton and Hove

Brighton and Hove's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, marriage and health.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of Brighton and Hove increased by 10%, from almost 248,000 to 273,000.

The addition of just under 26,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Brighton and Hove was home to, on average, 24 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Brighton and Hove

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Brighton and Hove decreased by one year, from 36 to 35 years.

This area had a lower average age than the South East and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 11,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 15% of people in Brighton and Hove are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Brighton and Hove by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Brighton and Hove

The number of people in Brighton and Hove that described themselves as Christian increased from about 150,000 in 2001 to just under 120,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 59% to 43% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 73% to 60%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Brighton and Hove that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 67,000 in 2001 to just under 120,000 in 2011 (from 27% to 42%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 22,000 to just over 24,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.9% to 8.8%.

About 6,100 people (1.5%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 3,600 in 2001 (2.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Brighton and Hove decreased by 16 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Brighton and Hove by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

This area saw the South East's largest fall in the proportion of single-person households.

Across the region, Guildford saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of single-person households (from 29% in 2001 to 27% in 2011).

In 2011, just over one in three (36%) households in Brighton and Hove had only a single person, compared with 39% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple increased from 12% to 13%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

This area saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

Across the region, only Slough saw a greater rise in the proportion of self-employed people (from 6.2% to 8.9%).

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of self-employed people, as the regional average grew from 9.5% to 11%.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 to 74 in Brighton and Hove said they were self-employed, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 50% to 49%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Brighton and Hove

The number of people in Brighton and Hove from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 4,800 in 2001 to about 10,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 1.9% to 3.8% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 1.1% to 1.9%) and the average across England (from 1.3% to 2.3%).

The number of people in Brighton and Hove from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 230,000 in 2001 to about 240,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 94% to 89%. The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 5,800 to about 11,000 (from 2.4% to 4.1%).

Just under 4,200 people (0.8%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 2,000 in 2001 (1.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) in Brighton and Hove increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Brighton and Hove by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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